Semiconductor component structure with vertical dielectric layers

ABSTRACT

A semiconductor component having a semiconductor body having a first and a second side, an edge and an edge region adjacent to the edge in a lateral direction is described.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/241,828, entitled “SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENT STRUCTURE WITH VERTICALDIELECTRIC LAYERS,” having a filing date of Sep. 30, 2008, and isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

One aspect in the development of power semiconductor components is toachieve a lowest possible on resistance for a given voltage blockingcapability. Power semiconductor components, such as power MOSFETs, forexample, have a drift zone, in which, with the component in the offstate and a reverse voltage present, a space charge zone propagates andwhich accepts the reverse voltage in this way. The on resistance of thecomponent is dependent, inter alia, on a doping concentration of thedrift zone.

In order to reduce the on resistance, a drift control zone can beprovided adjacent to the drift zone, which drift control zone isdielectrically insulated from the drift zone using a dielectric layerand serves to control a conductive channel in the drift zone along thedielectric layer.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present description relates to a method for producinga semiconductor structure, the method including: providing a firstsemiconductor body having a first and a second side, the semiconductorbody having a plurality of first dielectric layers being arranged at adistance from one another, each of which extending into the firstsemiconductor body proceeding from the first side in a verticaldirection, and subdividing the first semiconductor body intosemiconductor sections; applying a second semiconductor body to thefirst side of the first semiconductor body; reducing a thickness of thefirst semiconductor body in a vertical direction proceeding from thesecond side at least as far as the level of the first dielectric layers.

A further aspect relates to a semiconductor component, including: asemiconductor body having a first and a second side, an edge and an edgeregion adjacent to the edge in a lateral direction; a drift zone and adrift control zone, which are dielectrically insulated from one anotherusing a first dielectric layer extending in a perpendicular direction ofthe semiconductor body, wherein at least the drift control zone isdielectrically insulated from the edge region using a second dielectriclayer; a first connection zone in the region of the second side of thesemiconductor body, which makes contact with the drift zone and the edgezone; a third dielectric layer, which is arranged between the drift zoneand the connection zone; a rectifier element, which is connected betweena contact zone of the drift control zone in the region of the first sideand a contact zone of the edge region in the region of the first side.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of embodiments and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments andtogether with the description serve to explain principles ofembodiments. Other embodiments and many of the intended advantages ofembodiments will be readily appreciated as they become better understoodby reference to the following detailed description. The elements of thedrawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other. Likereference numerals designate corresponding similar parts.

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a method for producing asemiconductor component structure having semiconductor sections, anddielectric layers arranged between the semiconductor sections a, on thebasis of vertical cross sections through a semiconductor body structureduring individual processes.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a method for producing asemiconductor component structure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a semiconductor component structure includingstrip-type semiconductor sections on the basis of horizontal crosssections through a semiconductor body structure.

FIG. 4 illustrates a semiconductor component structure includingrectangular semiconductor sections on the basis of a horizontal crosssection through a semiconductor body structure.

FIG. 5 illustrates a first method for producing vertical dielectriclayers in a semiconductor body.

FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of a method for producing verticaldielectric layers in a semiconductor body.

FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of a method for producing verticaldielectric layers in a semiconductor body.

FIG. 8 illustrates one embodiment for producing vertical dielectriclayers in a semiconductor body.

FIG. 9 illustrates one embodiment of a semiconductor component on thebasis of a vertical cross section through a semiconductor bodystructure.

FIG. 10 illustrates one embodiment of an insulation structure of asemiconductor component.

FIG. 11 illustrates one embodiment of the insulation structure.

FIG. 12 illustrates one embodiment of a method for producing theinsulation structure in accordance with FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 illustrates a further method for producing a semiconductorcomponent structure including a drift zone, a drift control zone and adielectric layer.

FIG. 14 illustrates an excerpt from a semiconductor component producedby the method in accordance with FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 illustrates an example of a semiconductor component including adrift control zone that is dielectrically insulated from a connectionzone, and including a rectifier element between the connection zone andthe drift control zone in the edge region of a semiconductor body.

FIG. 16 illustrates a semiconductor component modified relative to theexample in accordance with FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 illustrates the integration of a capacitance in the region ofthe drift control zone of a semiconductor component.

FIG. 18 illustrates one embodiment of a transistor cell of asemiconductor component.

FIG. 19 illustrates one embodiment of a semiconductor circuit on thebasis of a vertical cross section through a semiconductor body.

FIG. 20 illustrates one embodiment of a semiconductor circuit on thebasis of a horizontal cross section through a semiconductor body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following Detailed Description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shownby way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention maybe practiced. In this regard, directional terminology, such as “top,”“bottom,” “front,” “back,” “leading,” “trailing,” etc., is used withreference to the orientation of the Figure(s) being described. Becausecomponents of embodiments can be positioned in a number of differentorientations, the directional terminology is used for purposes ofillustration and is in no way limiting. It is to be understood thatother embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes maybe made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Thefollowing detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in alimiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by theappended claims.

It is to be understood that the features of the various exemplaryembodiments described herein may be combined with each other, unlessspecifically noted otherwise.

One embodiment of a method for producing a semiconductor componentstructure having semiconductor sections, that are separated by firstdielectric layers is explained below with reference to FIGS. 1A to 1C.Referring to FIG. 1A, in this method a first semiconductor body 100 isprovided that is, for example, composed of silicon, and which has afirst side 101, a second side 102′ remote from the first side 101, andalso vertical first dielectric layers 31 which extend into thesemiconductor body 100 proceeding from the first side 101 in a verticaldirection. FIG. 1A illustrates an excerpt from a vertical cross sectionthrough this first semiconductor body 100, that is to say a crosssection in a vertical sectional plane running perpendicular to the firstand second sides 101, 102′.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1A, the first dielectric layers 31run perpendicular relative to the first side 101. It should be pointedout in this connection that “vertical dielectric layers” in connectionwith the present description should also be understood to mean thosedielectric layers which run obliquely relative to the first side 101,that is to say which only have one direction component running in avertical direction of the first semiconductor body 100.

The individual first dielectric layers 31 subdivide the firstsemiconductor body 100 in a lateral direction, that is to say in adirection running perpendicular to the vertical direction, intosemiconductor sections 11′, 21′. Two of these semiconductor sections areadjacent to—or separated by—one dielectric layer. These twosemiconductor sections that are separated by one dielectric layer willbe referred to as first and second semiconductor sections 11′, 21′ inthe following. The first and second semiconductor sections can beprocessed identically or differently in the following processes. At thetime of the method process of FIG. 1A the first and second semiconductorsections 11′, 21′ can be identical semiconductor zones, that is to saythey do not differ with regard to doping type and doping concentration.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1A, the individual firstdielectric layers 31 are spaced apart uniformly, such that the firstsections 11′ and the second sections 21′ have identical dimensions in adirection perpendicular to the first dielectric layers 31. In a mannernot specifically illustrated, there is also the possibility of producingthe first sections 11′ and the second sections 21′ with differenthorizontal dimensions.

Referring to FIG. 3A, which illustrates a cross section through thefirst semiconductor body 100 in a horizontal sectional plane B-Bdepicted in FIG. 1A, the individual dielectric layers 31 can be realizedas elongated dielectric layers in a lateral direction, which arearranged at least approximately parallel to one another. The firstsections 11′ and the second sections 21′ are then in strip form in ahorizontal direction of the first semiconductor body 100.

Referring to FIG. 3B, the first semiconductor body 100 has an edge 103that delimits the first semiconductor body 100 in a lateral direction. Aregion of the semiconductor body 100 that is adjacent to the edge 103 ina lateral direction is referred to hereinafter as edge region 104 of thesemiconductor body 100. The semiconductor body 100 can be circular orrectangular in plan view or in the horizontal plane. FIG. 3B illustratesan excerpt from the first semiconductor body 100 in the horizontalsectional plane B-B in the region of the edge 103 for the case where thesemiconductor body is a rectangular semiconductor body.

The dielectric layers 31 can reach as far as the edge 103 in a lateraldirection of the semiconductor body, as is illustrated by dashed lineson the right in FIG. 3B. The dielectric layers 31 can, however, also endat a distance from the edge 103 in a lateral direction of the firstsemiconductor body 100. If the first dielectric layers 31 end at adistance from the edge 103, then second vertical dielectric layers 32are present at least between the second sections 21′ and the edge region104, the dielectric layers extending into the first semiconductor body100 proceeding from the first side 101 in a vertical direction in amanner corresponding to the first dielectric layers 31. Such seconddielectric layers 32 can optionally also be arranged between the firstsections 11′ and the edge section 104, which is illustrated by dashedlines in FIG. 3B. The first and second dielectric layers 31, 32completely enclose the second sections 21′ in a lateral direction of thefirst semiconductor body 100.

The second dielectric layers 32 can be straight in the horizontal planeand run perpendicular to the first dielectric layers 31, as isillustrated in FIG. 3B. Such an orthogonal arrangement of the seconddielectric layers in relation to the first dielectric layers 31 shouldbe understood merely as an example. Thus, the second dielectric layerscan, for example, also be embodied in bent fashion, in particular incircular fashion, in the horizontal plane, as is illustrated in FIG. 3C,or can have, for example, the form of a polygon progression in thehorizontal plane, as is illustrated in FIG. 3D.

During the method processes explained below, the first semiconductorbody 100 can be part of a semiconductor wafer having a multiplicity offirst semiconductor bodies 100 that are of identical type and arefixedly connected to one another. Such a further semiconductor body isillustrated by dashed lines in FIG. 3B. The individual semiconductorbodies can be singulated by sawing or other singulation techniques afterthe conclusion of the production processes explained below. At the waferlevel, the edge of a semiconductor body (not yet singulated) is aline—also referred to as scribing channel or sawing track—along whichthe wafer is divided into individual chips or components. Edge regionsof the individual semiconductor bodies are those regions which areadjacent to these dividing lines in a lateral direction. The edge isillustrated schematically as a line in FIG. 3B. In actual fact the edgeusually has a certain extent, at least e.g., the width of a saw bladeplus the necessary alignment tolerances for sawing.

Referring to FIG. 4, which illustrates a horizontal cross sectionthrough a first semiconductor body 100 in accordance with a furtherexample, the first sections 11′ can also have a lattice-shaped geometryand is separated from a plurality of second sections 21′ in a lateraldirection by the first dielectric layers 31. In the example illustrated,the first dielectric layers 31 have the geometry of a rectangular ring,but—in a manner not illustrated—can also have the geometry of anannulus, of a hexagonal ring or of an arbitrary polygonal ring. Thesecond sections 21′ correspondingly have in a horizontal direction thegeometry of a rectangle, of a circle, of a hexagon or of an arbitrarypolygon. It goes without saying that the second sections 21′ can alsohave a lattice-shaped geometry, wherein the first sections 11′surrounded by the first dielectric layers 31 are arranged in interspacesof this lattice. The reference symbols indicated between parentheses inFIG. 4 relate to this last-mentioned example.

Referring to FIG. 1B, optional next method processes involve producingan insulation structure 40 (illustrated in dashed lines) in the regionof the first side 101 in the second sections 21′ or on the secondsections 21′. The insulation structures 40 can be dielectric insulationstructures including a dielectric layer, or can be junction insulationstructures including a pn junction. The insulation structures 40 servefor the dielectric insulation or junction insulation of the secondsections 21′.

Referring to FIG. 1C, next method processes involve fixing a secondsemiconductor body 200 to the first semiconductor body 100 in the regionof the first side 101. The second semiconductor body 200 has two sides:a first side 201; and a second side 202, which faces the first side 101of the first semiconductor body 100. The second semiconductor body 200can be fixed directly on the first side 101 of the first semiconductorbody 100, but can also be fixed to an interlayer 300 previously appliedto the first side 101 of the first semiconductor body 100. The fixing ofthe second semiconductor body 200 to the first semiconductor body 100 orthe interlayer 300 is effected, for example, using a wafer bondingmethod. The second semiconductor body 200 has at least one of thefunctions mentioned below: it serves for mechanically stabilizing thesemiconductor body structure including the first and secondsemiconductor bodies 100, 200 during subsequent method processes; itforms a connection zone or is part of a connection zone that makeselectrically conductive contact with the drift control zone sections11′. The second semiconductor body 200 is chosen with regard to itselectrical properties in such a way that it can fulfill one or both ofthe functions mentioned above. It should be pointed out that the secondsemiconductor body need not necessarily be a homogeneous semiconductorbody. Thus, the second semiconductor body can be provided with aconductive or insulating layers, for example, on one or on both sides201 and/or 202, in respect of which examples will also be explainedbelow.

Referring to FIG. 1D, next method processes involve reducing thedimensions of the first semiconductor body 100 in a vertical directionproceeding from the second side 102′, to be precise at least as far asthe level of the first dielectric layers 31 or the second dielectriclayers (32 in FIG. 3D, not illustrated in FIG. 1D). For this purpose,the first semiconductor body 100 is eroded proceeding from the secondside 102′, for example, using an etching method, a grinding method or apolishing method. It goes without saying that combinations of themethods mentioned above are also possible. In particular, a combinationof a grinding or polishing method with a subsequent isotropic etch ispossible. In this case, the isotropic etching removes crystal damagewhich was produced as a result of the grinding and which can impair boththe electrical properties of the later component and the fracturestability of the wafer.

After the conclusion of this method, the first dielectric layers 31 areuncovered in the region of the second side of the first semiconductorbody 100. The reference symbol 102 in FIG. 1D and in the followingFigures designates the second side of the first semiconductor body 100after the reduction of the thickness of the first semiconductor body100. During this “thinning” of the first semiconductor body 100, thesecond semiconductor body 200 serves for mechanically stabilizing theentire semiconductor body structure. It should be pointed out in thisconnection that the vertical dimensions of the first and secondsemiconductor bodies 100, 200 in FIGS. 1C and 1D are not true to scale.The dimensions of the second semiconductor body 200 in a verticaldirection can, in particular, be greater than those of the firstsemiconductor body 100.

The semiconductor structure with the two semiconductor bodies 100, 200is referred to hereinafter as semiconductor body for short. Thissemiconductor body can be used as a basic structure for the realizationof a power semiconductor component. In this case, the first sections 11′can form drift zones of the later power semiconductor component and thesecond sections 21′ can form drift control zones of the later powersemiconductor component, which will be additionally explained below. Thedimensions of the dielectric layers 31 in a vertical direction of thecomposite semiconductor body or the dimensions of the first sections 11′influence the electrical properties of such a power semiconductorcomponent. Per 100 volts of desired voltage blocking capability of thelater component, approximately a thickness of 10 μm of the firstsections 11′ in a vertical direction is required if silicon is used assemiconductor material. It should be noted in this connection that, inorder to set these electrical properties, the first semiconductor body100 can be thinned or eroded until a desired vertical dimension of thefirst sections 11′ is reached. During this process, therefore, the firstdielectric layers 31 can also be partly eroded in a vertical direction.

The first semiconductor body 100 can be a homogeneously dopedsemiconductor substrate composed of a monocrystalline semiconductormaterial. However, it can also have differently doped semiconductorlayers. Thus, by way of example, the region of the first semiconductorbody 100 in which the first 31—and if appropriate second 32—dielectriclayers are arranged can be doped differently than the subsequentlyeroded section of the first semiconductor body 100—to be precise bothwith regard to the doping concentration and with regard to the dopingtype.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate processes of a further example of a methodfor producing a semiconductor component structure in accordance withFIG. 1D. In this example, the semiconductor body 100 has threesemiconductor layers: a first semiconductor layer 121; a secondsemiconductor layer 122, which is arranged on the first semiconductorlayer 121 and which is a porous semiconductor layer; and a thirdsemiconductor layer, which is applied to the porous semiconductor layer122 and in which the dielectric layers 31 are arranged. The first andthird semiconductor layers 121, 123 are, in particular, monocrystallinesemiconductor layers. As an alternative and in a departure from theillustration in FIGS. 2A and 2B, individual or all of the dielectriclayers 31 can also be realized in such a way that they reach as far asthe porous second semiconductor layer 122 or right into the poroussecond semiconductor layer 122.

The first semiconductor layer 121 is a semiconductor substrate, forexample, which can be doped as desired. The third semiconductor layer123 is an epitaxial layer, for example, which was produced by epitaxialdeposition on the porous semiconductor layer 122. Methods for producingan epitaxial layer on a porous semiconductor layer and methods forproducing a porous semiconductor layer on a semiconductor substrate areknown in principle, such that further explanations in this respect canbe dispensed with.

In order to reduce the thickness of the first semiconductor body 100,referred to FIG. 2B, firstly the first semiconductor layer 121 isseparated along the porous semiconductor layer 122. This separation ofthe first semiconductor layer 121 is effected, for example, bywet-chemical etching of the porous layer 122 in a lateral direction.Porous semiconductor material, such as e.g., porous silicon, has asignificantly higher etching rate than crystalline semiconductormaterial, such as e.g., crystalline silicon. The difference in theetching rate between porous and crystalline material is between 10 000:1and 100 000:1. Etchants contain, for example, hydroxide ions insolutions or dilute hydrofluoric acid in conjunction with an oxidizingmedium (e.g., solutions containing HF and HNO₃). On account of the highetching rate, even at the wafer level, that is to say when an entirewafer with a multiplicity of semiconductor bodies of identical type isprocessed, the first semiconductor layer 121 can be removed within ashort time, e.g., within a few minutes, by laterally etching the poroussemiconductor layer 122. As an alternative to an etching method, theporous semiconductor layer 122 can also be separated or removed oreroded in a lateral direction, using a laser beam or water jet, to anextent such that the first semiconductor layer 121 can be removed.

On the basis of the removed first semiconductor layer 121, a new firstsemiconductor body can be produced by applying, after cleaning thesurface, a new porous semiconductor layer to the semiconductor layer 121and a new epitaxial layer to the porous semiconductor layer, firstdielectric layers being produced in the epitaxial layer. In contrast toreducing the thickness of the first semiconductor body 100 using anetching method or a grinding method, the removed semiconductor materialcan be reused in this method.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the dielectric layers 31 can be producedin such a way that they end within the third semiconductor layer 123 ina vertical direction. In a manner corresponding to the processesexplained above with reference to FIG. 1D, the third semiconductor layer123 can be eroded after the removal of the first semiconductor layer 121using an etching method, a grinding method or a polishing method untilat least the dielectric layers 31 are uncovered or until desiredvertical dimensions of the first sections 11′ and second sections 21′are reached. If the dielectric layers 31 are produced, in accordancewith the alternative explained, in such a way that they reach as far asor right into the porous second semiconductor layer, then aplanarization of the surface uncovered after the removal of the poroussemiconductor layer 122 is sufficient. This planarization can includegrinding, polishing or isotropic etching.

In a manner corresponding to the first semiconductor body 100, thesecond semiconductor body 200 can also be constructed in layeredfashion, and include a porous semiconductor layer 222 (illustrated bydashed lines in FIGS. 2A and 2B). The porous layer 222 makes it possiblealso to separate parts of the second semiconductor body 200 in the sameway; e.g., after carrying out further process processes, after theconclusion thereof, the mechanical stability of the semiconductor bodystructure can be reduced. A partial eroding of the second semiconductorbody 200 is expedient, for example, when the second semiconductor body200 serves as a connection zone, such as e.g., drain zone, of a laterpower semiconductor component. By reducing the thickness of the secondsemiconductor body 200, it is possible to reduce the electricalresistance of the connection zone. The reduction of the thickness,particularly if the porous semiconductor layer 222 is dispensed with,can also be effected by conventional grinding and/or etching.

Any suitable methods can be used for producing the vertical dielectriclayers 31. These methods should be suitable for producing verticaldielectric layers 31 which—depending on the desired voltage blockingcapability of the later power semiconductor component—extend into thefirst semiconductor body 100 a few μm to a few 100 μm in a verticaldirection and whose thickness is between 50 nm and 200 nm, for example.Examples of possible methods for producing such deep and thin verticaldielectric layers are explained below with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8. Inthese methods, the first semiconductor body 100 can be either amonocrystalline semiconductor body or a semiconductor body with a poroussemiconductor layer (cf. FIG. 2).

In a first method, referring to FIG. 5A, trenches 104 are produced inthe first semiconductor body 100 proceeding from the first side 101. Thedepth of the trenches corresponds to the desired dimensions of the firstdielectric layers 31 in a vertical direction of the first semiconductorbody 100. Referring to FIG. 5B, the first dielectric layers 31 aresubsequently produced at opposite sidewalls of the trenches 104.Producing the dielectric layers 31 includes, for example, producing adielectric layer over the whole area at the sidewalls of the trenches,the bottoms of the trenches and on the first side 101 of the firstsemiconductor body 100. This whole-area dielectric layer can beproduced, for example, by deposition of a dielectric layer or by thermaloxidation. The dielectric layer is subsequently removed at least fromthe bottoms of the trenches, for example, using an anisotropic etchingmethod, which results in the structure illustrated in FIG. 5B. On thefirst side 101 of the semiconductor body, the dielectric layer can beremoved again, as is illustrated in FIG. 5, or a dielectric layer canstill remain there (not illustrated).

Referring to FIG. 5C, the residual trenches remaining after thedielectric layers 31 have been produced are filled by deposition of anepitaxial layer proceeding from the bottoms of the trenches.Semiconductor material that grows onto the first side 101 during thismethod is subsequently eroded, for example, using a grinding orpolishing method.

In a method wherein a dielectric layer still remains on the first side101 of the semiconductor body, the dielectric layer preventssemiconductor material from growing on the first side 101. All that thenoccurs is a growth of semiconductor material proceeding from thetrenches both in a vertical and in a lateral direction. During laterprocesses wherein the first side 101 is planarized after deposition ofthe semiconductor material, the dielectric layer present on the firstside 101 can serve as a stop layer for a grinding or polishing methodduring the planarization.

The result of the processes explained above is a monocrystallinesemiconductor body 100 having first dielectric layers 31 extending in avertical direction. A boundary between the semiconductor material of theoriginally provided semiconductor body 100 into which the trenches 104were etched, and the epitaxial layers produced later is illustrated bydashed lines in FIG. 5C. In this first semiconductor body 100, firstsections 11′ can be the epitaxial layers, but can also be the mesasections that remained between the trenches 104 during the production ofthe trenches 104 (cf. FIG. 5A). The reference symbols not indicatedbetween parentheses in FIG. 5C relate to the first case; the referencesymbols indicated between parentheses in FIG. 5C relate to the secondcase.

The width of the trenches 104 in a lateral direction and the mutualdistance between the trenches are dependent on the desired dimensions ofthe later first sections 11′ and second sections 21′ in a lateraldirection. In this case, the width of the trenches determines thelateral dimensions of one of the first sections 11′ and the secondsections 21′, and the mutual distance between the trenches 104determines the lateral dimensions of the other of the first sections 11′and the second sections 21′. The width of the trenches is, for example,between 0.2 μm and 5 μm, in particular between 0.4 μm and 2 μm. Themutual distance between the trenches can lie within the same range, butcan also be larger.

The geometry of the trenches 104 is dependent on the desired geometry ofthe first sections 11′ and second sections 21′. If the intention is toproduce strip-type first sections 11′ and second sections 21′ (cf. FIG.3), then the trenches 104 are elongated trenches at the oppositesidewalls of which the first dielectric layers 31 are produced. In orderto produce the second dielectric layers 32 (cf. FIG. 3D), dielectriclayers are also produced at end walls of the elongated trenches 104.With application of the method explained above, the production of thesesecond dielectric layers 32 can take place together with the productionof the first dielectric layers 31. If the second dielectric layer 32 isintended to delimit both the first sections 11′, and the second sections21′ with respect to the edge region 104, then a further trench has to beproduced which runs in a lateral direction perpendicular to the trenches104 and in which a dielectric layer that forms the second dielectriclayer 32 is produced at least at a sidewall. If the intention is toproduce pillar-type second sections 21′ and first sections 11′, as wasexplained with reference to FIG. 4, then in the method in accordancewith FIG. 5 pillar-type trenches 104 have to be produced proceeding fromthe first side 101 of the first semiconductor body 100.

A further embodiment for producing vertical dielectric layers isexplained below with reference to FIGS. 6A to 6C. Referring to FIG. 6A,this method provides for producing vertical trenches 105 extending intothe first semiconductor body 100 proceeding from the first side 101.Afterward, referring to FIG. 6B, a dielectric layer is produced at onlyrespectively one sidewall of a trench. These dielectric layers form thefirst dielectric layers 31. These dielectric layers are produced, forexample, by whole-area application of a dielectric layer to uncoveredsurfaces of the first semiconductor body 100 after the production of thetrenches 105 and subsequent removal of these dielectric layers from thefirst side 101, the bottom and one of the sidewalls of the trenches 105.Afterward, the residual trenches remaining after the production of thefirst dielectric layers 31 are filled by epitaxial deposition of asemiconductor material using an epitaxy method proceeding from thesidewalls not covered by the dielectric layers 31 to the bottoms of thetrenches 105. On the first side 101 of the semiconductor body, thedielectric layer can either be removed, as is illustrated, or adielectric layer can still remain there (not illustrated). In this case,the doping concentration of the epitaxially produced semiconductormaterial is chosen in particular such that it is similar to the dopingconcentration of the first semiconductor body 100 in the region in whichthe trenches 105 were produced, taking account of the processfluctuations. During production of the first dielectric layers 31 and ofthe first sections 11′ and of the drift second sections 21′ inaccordance with this method, the first sections 11′ and the secondsections 21′ are doped approximately identically.

In the method explained above with reference to FIG. 5 there is thepossibility of the first sections 11′ and the second sections 21′ beingdoped differently by virtue of the fact that in the epitaxy methodexplained, a semiconductor material is deposited whose dopingconcentration and, if appropriate, doping type differ from the doping ofthe first semiconductor body 100 in the region in which the trenches 104were produced.

A further embodiment of a method for producing the vertical dielectriclayers 31 is illustrated in FIGS. 7A to 7C. In this method, in order toproduce the first semiconductor body 100, a plurality of epitaxiallayers are deposited successively, in which case, after each epitaxiallayer has been produced, trenches 106 are produced in the epitaxiallayer deposited, which is illustrated for an epitaxial layer 112 in FIG.7A. Referring to FIG. 7B, the trenches 106 are subsequently filled witha dielectric, whereby vertical dielectric sections 31′ arise which formpart of the later first dielectric layers 31. The trenches in theindividual epitaxial layers are in each case produced in a manner lyingone above another such that individual vertical dielectric sections 31′are adjacent to one another in a vertical direction, whereby the firstdielectric layers 31 arise. FIG. 7C illustrates the first semiconductorbody 100 after the conclusion of this method. It shall be assumed merelyfor explanation purposes that in this method three epitaxial layers 112,113, 114 are deposited one above another, in each of which trenches areproduced that are filled with a dielectric material. It goes withoutsaying that the number of epitaxial layers produced one above anothercan be as desired. It should be noted in this context that the trenchesproduced first (cf. FIG. 7A) can also be produced directly in asemiconductor substrate, that is to say that before the production ofthese first trenches an epitaxial layer need not necessarily be appliedto the semiconductor substrate. If an epitaxial layer is applied to asemiconductor substrate before the production of the first trenches, thetrenches 106 can be produced in such a way that they reach through theepitaxial layer right into the semiconductor substrate. In FIG. 7A, thereference symbol 111 designates a semiconductor substrate and thereference symbol 112 designates an epitaxial layer deposited first onthe semiconductor substrate.

It should furthermore be noted that the vertical dielectric sections(31′ in FIG. 7B) which are adjacent to one another in a verticaldirection of the first semiconductor body 100 can directly form thefirst dielectric layers 31. Furthermore, there is also the possibility,after the last epitaxial layer has been deposited, of removing thepreviously produced dielectric layers from the trenches, for example,using an etching method, and replacing them by another dielectric layer,for example, using thermal oxidation. The same also applies to themethods explained above with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

In the method explained with reference to FIG. 7, the dimensions of theproduced trenches 106 in a lateral direction of the semiconductor bodycorrespond to the desired dimensions of the first dielectric layer 31,in which case it should be taken into account, if appropriate, that inthe case where the first dielectric layers 31 are produced using thermaloxidation, the thickness of the dielectric layers 31 produced is largerthan the width of the previously produced trenches 106.

In a further embodiment of a method for producing vertical dielectriclayers, referring to FIG. 8A, firstly trenches 107 are produced whichextend into the first semiconductor body 100 in a vertical directionproceeding from the first side 101 but whose dimensions in a lateraldirection of the semiconductor body are larger than a desired thicknessof the later first dielectric layers 31. Referring to FIG. 8B, thetrenches 107 are subsequently partly filled using an epitaxy methodproceeding from the bottom and from the sidewalls until residualtrenches 108 remain. These residual trenches are subsequently filledwith the dielectric desired for the vertical dielectric layers, theresult of which is illustrated in FIG. 8C. The process of filling thetrenches with the dielectric material is effected, for example, bythermal oxidation or by deposition of a dielectric layer into theresidual trenches 108.

It should be pointed out that the methods for producing the verticaldielectric layers explained with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8 are to beunderstood merely as an example. It goes without saying that any furthermethods can be employed for producing the vertical dielectric layers 31in the first semiconductor body 100.

The dielectric properties of the dielectric layer 31 can change, and inparticular deteriorate, during the processes explained, for example,during the epitaxy methods. It may be expedient, therefore, to removethis dielectric layer 31 after or during the method processes explained,e.g., using etching, and to produce it anew. Producing the dielectriclayer 31 anew can include a thermal oxidation and/or the deposition ofone or a plurality of dielectric layers. The newly produced dielectriclayer 31 can be produced as a homogeneous layer, but can also beproduced in such a way that it has a layer sequence of differentdielectric materials. Such dielectric materials are, for example, SiO₂,Si₃N₄, Al₂O₃, HfO₂, TiO₂ or other dielectrics used for gate insulationsin integrated circuits, either in pure or mixed form or as a layersequence of the pure and/or mixed forms.

The semiconductor body structure in accordance with FIG. 1D includingthe first semiconductor body 100 containing the vertical dielectriclayers 31, and the second semiconductor body 200 applied to the firstsemiconductor body 100 directly or indirectly, can be used as a basicstructure for the production of vertical power semiconductor components.In such vertical power semiconductor components drift zones 11 of thesemiconductor component are formed in the first sections 11′, and driftcontrol zones 21 are formed in the second sections 21′. In connectionwith producing such vertical semiconductor components first sections 11′will be referred to as drift zone sections, and second sections 11′ willbe referred to as drift control zone sections.

FIG. 9 illustrates a vertical cross section of a vertical powersemiconductor component which is embodied as a MOS transistor and isbased on such a basic structure in accordance with FIG. 1D. FIG. 9illustrates only one drift zone section 11′ and drift control zonesection 21′ of this basic structure. It goes without saying that thecomponent can have a multiplicity of such drift zone sections 11′ anddrift control zone sections 21′.

The first semiconductor body 100, the second semiconductor body 200, andif appropriate the interlayer 300 form a semiconductor body. The secondside 102 of the first semiconductor body 100 that is obtained byreducing the thickness of the first semiconductor body 100 is referredto hereinafter as front side of this semiconductor body, and the firstside 201 of the second semiconductor body 200 is referred to hereinafteras rear side of this semiconductor body.

The semiconductor component includes a respective transistor cell ineach drift zone section 11′, the transistor cell being arranged in theregion of the front side 102. The transistor cell includes a body zone12, which is arranged in the region of the front side 102 in the driftzone section 11′. The body zone 12 is produced, for example, byimplantation and/or diffusion of dopant atoms proceeding from the frontside 102. The dopant atoms are chosen in particular in such a way thatthe body zone 12 is doped complementarily with respect to the drift zonesection 11′ in which it is produced. The residue—remaining afterproduction of the body zone 12—of the drift zone section 11′, which inthe example illustrated reaches in a vertical direction as far as theend of the first dielectric layers 31, forms a drift zone 11 of thecomponent. The transistor cell additionally includes a source zone 13,which, for example, is of the same conduction type as the drift zone 11but doped more highly than the drift zone 11. The source zone 13 isseparated from the drift zone 11 by the body zone 12. The source zone 13is produced, for example, by implantation and/or diffusion of dopantatoms into the body zone 12 proceeding from the front side 102. Thetransistor cell additionally includes a gate electrode 14, which isarranged adjacent to the body zone 12 and which is dielectricallyinsulated from the body zone 12 by a gate dielectric 15. In the exampleillustrated, the gate electrode 14 is arranged in a trench that extendsthrough the source zone 13 and the body zone 12 right into the driftzone 11. The illustrated transistor cell including the gate electrode 14arranged in a trench is also referred to as a trench transistor cell.

The source zone 13 can be arranged at a distance from the firstdielectric layer 31 in a lateral direction, but can also reach as far asthe dielectric layer 31.

In addition, as illustrated in dotted fashion in FIG. 9, a contact zone16 can be arranged laterally between the body zone 12 and the connectioncontact 61 for the source and body zone, which is of the sameconductivity type as the body zone 12 but doped more highly. The contactzone 16 can also be situated below the source zone 13 in sections, butmust not, at least at all points, reach as far as the gate dielectric15. The source zone 13 can extend laterally as far as the dielectriclayer 31, the contact zone 16 then being situated behind and/or in frontof the source zone 13 relative to the plane of the drawing illustrated.The source zone 13 and the contact zone 16 can be situated over theentire length between the trench with the gate electrode 14 and thedielectric layer 31, but can also be introduced into the semiconductorbody in sections, e.g., in insular or strip-type fashion.

In the region of the front side 102, in the case of the componentillustrated, at least locally a semiconductor zone 22 is present in thedrift zone section 21′, the semiconductor zone being doped, for example,complementarily with respect to a basic doping of the drift control zonesection 21′. The semiconductor zone 22 forms a connection zone of adrift control zone 21, wherein the drift control zone 21 is formed bythat section of the drift control zone section 21′ which remains afterthe production of the connection zone 22. In a vertical direction of thesemiconductor body, the connection zone 22 can extend, proceeding fromthe front side 102, into the semiconductor body to just the same extentas the adjacent body zone 12. The connection zone 22 and the body zone12 can be produced, for example, by a common implantation and/ordiffusion method. It should be pointed out in this context that theconnection zone 22 and the body zone 12 can also be produced by separatemethods and need not necessarily extend into the semiconductor body toan identical extent. The drift zone 11 and the drift control zone 21 canbe of the same conduction type and can have, in particular, identicaldoping concentrations.

In the case of the semiconductor component illustrated in FIG. 9, thesecond semiconductor body 200, which makes contact with the drift zone11, forms a drain zone of the MOS transistor structure. The drain zoneis common to all the transistor cells of the component. The individualtransistor cells are connected in parallel, moreover, by their sourcezones 13 being electrically conductively connected to one another andconnected to a common source connection S, and by their gate electrodes14 being electrically conductively connected to one another andconnected to a common gate connection G. In the region of the rear side201, a metallization 62 can be applied to the second semiconductor body200 forming the drain zone 14, the metallization forming a drainconnection D of the component. Apart from the source connection S, thegate connection G and the drain connection D, the component illustratedhas a fourth connection, namely a drift control zone connection DCconnected to the connection zone 22.

A further drain zone section 18 can optionally be present in the driftzone section 11′ in the transition region with respect to the interlayer300 or the second semiconductor body, the further drain zone sectionbeing formed by a semiconductor region that is doped more highly thanthe drift zone 11. The drain zone section 18 can be produced byimplantation or indiffusion of dopant atoms before the interlayer 300 orthe second semiconductor body 200 is applied.

The functioning of the component illustrated in FIG. 9 is explainedbelow. It shall be assumed for explanation purposes that the MOStransistor structure is a transistor structure of a normally offn-conducting MOSFET. In this case, the source zone 13, the drift zone 11and the drain zone 17 are n-doped, while the body zone 12 is p-doped. Itshall additionally be assumed that the drift control zone 21 is of thesame conduction type as the drift zone 11, that is to say n-doped in theexample, and that the connection zone 22 is doped complementarily withrespect to the drift control zone 21. It should be pointed out in thiscontext that the following explanation also applies to a p-conductingMOSFET, in which case the doping types of the component zones mentionedabove should be interchanged and the polarities of the voltagesexplained below should be interchanged.

The component is turned on if a positive voltage is present between thedrain connection D and the source connection S and if an electricalpotential suitable for forming an inversion channel in the body zone 12along the gate dielectric 14 between the source zone 13 and the driftzone 11 is present at the gate connection G. In the case of ann-conducting MOSFET, the electrical potential is an electrical potentialwhich is positive with respect to the potential of the source connectionS and which lies above the source potential at least by the value of athreshold voltage of the transistor. In addition, with the componentdriven in the on state, the drift control zone 21 is charged to anelectrical potential suitable for forming an accumulation channel in thedrift zone 11 along the dielectric layer 31. In the case of an n-dopeddrift zone 11, an electrical potential of the drift control zone 21 thatis positive with respect to the drift zone 11 is necessary for formingsuch an accumulation channel. In order to provide this electricalpotential of the drift control zone 21, the drift control zoneconnection DC can be coupled to the gate connection G.

For driving the component in the on state, the electrical potential ofthe gate connection G lies, for example, between 5 V and 20 V above theelectrical potential at the source connection S. With the componentdriven in the on state, the voltage drop across the drift zone 11, thatis to say the voltage difference between the drain zone 17 and thesource zone 13, is, for example, between 1 V and 3 V, or else less. Evenat the drain-side end of the drift zone 11, the potential differencebetween the drift control zone 21 at gate potential and the drift zone11 still suffices to produce an accumulation channel along thedielectric layer 31.

The insulation structure 40 explained in even greater detail belowensures, while the component is driven in the on state, that the driftcontrol zone 21 can be held at an electrical potential that is higherthan the electrical potential of the drain zone 17 and the drift zone11. With the component driven in the on state, therefore, the insulationstructure 40 prevents a discharge of the drift control zone 21 in adirection of the drain zone 17.

Referring to FIG. 10, one example provides for realizing the insulationstructure 40 as a junction insulation structure having a pn junction.This insulation structure 40 has at least one semiconductor zone 41doped complementarily with respect to the drain zone 17. Thiscomplementarily doped semiconductor zone 41 can be directly adjacent tothe drift control zone 21. In this case, a pn junction that prevents adischarge of the drift control zone 21 in a direction of the drain zone17 is formed between the drift control zone 21 and the firstsemiconductor zone 41. There is optionally the possibility of providing,between the first semiconductor zone 41 and the drift control zone 21, amore highly doped semiconductor zone 42 (illustrated in dashed fashion)of the same conduction type as the drain zone 17.

The insulation structure illustrated in FIG. 10 with the at least onesemiconductor zone 41 doped complementarily with respect to the drainzone 17 is produced, for example, by dopant atoms being implanted orindiffused into the drift zone section 21 via the first side 101 of thefirst semiconductor body 100 before the second semiconductor body 200 isapplied. The optional drain zone section 18 of the same doping type asthe drain zone 17 can be produced analogously. After this insulationstructure 40 has been produced, a plane surface of the firstsemiconductor body 100 is present in the region of the first side 101.In this case, the second semiconductor body 200 can be bonded directlyonto the first side 101, such that an interlayer 300 can be dispensedwith. Optionally, however, such an interlayer 300 can also be providedwhen an insulation structure 40 in accordance with FIG. 10 is realized.The interlayer is illustrated in dashed fashion in FIG. 10.

In order to form a positive electrical potential in the drift controlzone 21 with the component driven in the on state, holes are required inan n-doped drift control zone 21. In the case of the componentillustrated in FIG. 9, the holes are made available from the connectionzone 22 doped complementarily with respect to the drift control zone 21.In order that electrical charge required in the drift control zone 21with the component driven in the on state does not have to be madeavailable anew with each switching operation of the component, a storagecapacitance 51, such as e.g., a capacitor, is optionally connected tothe drift control zone connection DC, which, in the example illustrated,is connected between the drift control zone connection DC and the sourceconnection S but can also be connected between the drift control zoneconnection DC and a reference potential connection. The capacitor 51serves for storing the electrical charge required in the drift controlzone 21 with the component driven in the on state in the event of thecomponent being turned off, and can be integrated in the semiconductorbody and/or realized outside the latter. If the electrical charge of thedrift control zone 21 is made available via the gate connection G, thenin this case a rectifier element, for example, a diode 52, is connectedbetween the gate connection G and the drift control zone connection DC.The rectifier element 32 prevents the capacitance 51 from beingdischarged with the component driven in the off state, that is to saywhen the gate connection G is at a low electrical potential in the caseof an n-conducting MOSFET.

The component is turned off if a positive voltage is present between thedrain connection D and the source connection S and if the electricalpotential at the gate connection G does not suffice to produce aconducting channel in the body zone 12. In this case, proceeding fromthe pn junction between the body zone 12 and the drift zone 11, a spacecharge zone or depletion layer zone propagates in the drift zone 11 in adirection of the drain zone 17. In this space charge zone, theelectrical potential increases proceeding from the electrical potentialof the body zone 12, which is short-circuited with the source zone 13via the source electrode 61, in a direction of the drain zone 17. Acorresponding space charge zone also propagates in the drift controlzone 21 when the component is turned off It should be noted in thiscontext that the drift zone 11 and the drift control zone 21 are dopedand chosen with regard to the semiconductor structure of thesemiconductor material used for realizing these component zones in sucha way that a space charge zone can propagate. By virtue of the spacecharge zones propagating in parallel fashion in the drift zone 11 andthe drift control zone 21 when the component is turned off, the voltageloading of the dielectric layer 31 is comparatively small. Thedielectric layer 31 can thereby be realized in very thin fashion, thatis to say significantly thinner than a dielectric layer that would benecessary in order to be able to take up the entire voltage presentbetween drain D and source S when the component is turned off In thiscase, for a given electrical potential of the drift zone 21, theformation of an accumulation channel in the drift zone 11 with thecomponent driven in the one state is all the more pronounced, thethinner the dielectric 31.

In a departure from the explanations above, there is also thepossibility of doping the drift zone 11 in such a way that it is of thesame conduction type as the body zone 12. In this case, with thecomponent driven in the on state, an inversion channel propagates alongthe dielectric layer 31 in the drift zone 11. In the case of ann-conducting MOSFET, the drift zone is therefore p-doped in this case.Independently of the doping type, the doping concentration of the driftzone depends on the required blocking capability of the component withthe nominal reverse voltage V_(nominal). In this case, the magnitude ofthe doping of the drift zone N_(drift) of a component, at least in thevicinity of the blocking pn junction, is intended approximately tosatisfy the condition

$N_{drift} \leq \frac{{2 \cdot 10^{17}}{V \cdot {cm}^{- 3}}}{V_{nominal}}$

preferably to be approximately less than or equal to half the valueobtained after insertion of the reverse voltage. For a nominal reversevoltage of 600 V, for example, this results in an upper limit for themagnitude of the doping of approximately 3·10¹⁴/cm³, and in this casethe doping chosen is in particular lower than approximately1.5·10¹⁴/cm³. If the drift zone 11 is of the same conduction type as thebody zone 13 and if the gate dielectric 15 is arranged at a distancefrom the dielectric layer 31 as in the example illustrated in FIG. 9,such that the inversion channels that form in the body zone 13 along thegate dielectric 15 and in the drift zone 11 along the dielectric layer31 are at a distance from one another, then between the accumulationdielectric 15 and the dielectric layer 31 below the body zone 13 atleast locally a semiconductor zone doped complementarily with respect tothe body zone 13 and the drift zone 11 can be provided (notillustrated), which connects the two channels.

FIG. 11 illustrates a further embodiment of an insulation structure 40on the basis of an excerpt from the semiconductor component illustratedin FIG. 9. This insulation structure 40 has a dielectric layer 43between the drift control zone 21 and the drain zone 17. The driftcontrol zone 21 is thereby completely dielectrically insulated from thedrain zone 17 at its drain-side end. The dielectric layer 43 can berealized in such a way that it reaches in a lateral direction preciselyas far as the first dielectric layers 31—and if appropriate the seconddielectric layers 32 (cf. FIG. 3)—which delimit the drift control zone21 in a lateral direction. However, the dielectric layer 43 can alsopartly overlap the adjacent drift zones 11, which is illustrated bydotted lines in FIG. 11.

One embodiment of a method for producing the dielectric layer 43 in thecontext of the processes explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 isexplained below with reference to FIGS. 12A to 12D. Referring to FIG.12A, during processes, a dielectric layer 43′ is produced over the wholearea on the first side 101 of the first semiconductor body 100. Thedielectric layer 43 is produced, for example, by thermal oxidation or bydeposition of a dielectric layer. In this case, the dielectric layer 43′can be produced at the same point in time as the dielectric layers 31.Referring to FIG. 12B, the dielectric layer 43′ is subsequentlypatterned in such a way that it covers at least the drift control zonesections 21′, in which case the dielectric layer 43 can also partlycover the drift zone sections 11′. The dielectric layer 43′ ispatterned, for example, using an etching method using an etching maskhaving cutouts above the drift zone sections 11′, such that thedielectric layer 43′ is removed at least in sections above the driftzone sections 11′.

Referring to FIG. 12C, an interlayer 300 is subsequently applied to thedielectric layer 43 and the uncovered regions of the drift zone sections11′. The interlayer 300 is composed, for example, of a highly dopedpolycrystalline or amorphous semiconductor material, such as silicon,for example, and serves to provide a plane surface onto which the secondsemiconductor body 200 can be bonded. In a manner not illustrated inmore specific detail, in this case there is the possibility, inparticular, of etching back, grinding back or polishing back theinterlayer 300 after the deposition thereof until it attains therequired planarity, or in the extreme case to an extent such that theinterlayer only fills voids between the dielectric layers 43 above thedrift zone section 11′.

Referring to FIG. 12D, the second semiconductor body 200 is subsequentlyapplied to the interlayer 300.

If an interlayer 300 is produced, then its doping type is chosen in sucha way that it forms part of the drain zone 17 of the semiconductorcomponent. The optionally present drain zone section 18 can be producedby indiffusion of dopant atoms from the interlayer 300 into the driftzone section 11′. In this case, the interlayer 300 serves as a dopantsource for producing the drain zone section 18. As an alternative or inaddition, the drain zone section 18 can also be produced prior to theapplication of the second semiconductor body 200 by ion implantationand/or diffusion.

In the case of the semiconductor component illustrated in FIG. 9, thesecond semiconductor body 200—if appropriate together with theinterlayer 300 and the optionally present drain zone section 18—forms adrain zone of the component. It should be pointed out in this contextthat before the completion of the component, that is to say before theapplication of the drain electrode 32, the thickness of thesemiconductor body 200 can also be reduced in order to reduce theelectrical resistance thereof The thickness can be reduced, for example,by grinding back, etching back, polishing or by a combination of theseprocesses, or else by—as explained—part of the semiconductor body 200being separated along a porous semiconductor layer.

A further embodiment provides for completely removing the secondsemiconductor body 200 again after completion of the componentstructures in the region of the front side 102 of the semiconductor bodyand then applying the drain electrode 62 to the interlayer 300. In thecase of such a component, exclusively the interlayer 300, if appropriatetogether with the drain zone section 18, forms the drain zone orrear-side connection zone of the component.

A method for completely removing the second semiconductor body 200 isexplained below with reference to FIGS. 13A to 13D. This method uses asecond semiconductor body 200 having an auxiliary layer 211, e.g., anoxide layer 211, at least in the region of its second side 202. Such anauxiliary layer 211 can be produced, for example, by thermal oxidationof the semiconductor body 200. In this case, an oxide layer 212 is alsopresent in the region of the first side 201 of the semiconductor body.Before the second semiconductor body 200 is applied to the firstsemiconductor body 100 or the interlayer 300, either a further oxidelayer is applied to the interlayer 300 or the interlayer 300 is partlyoxidized in regions near the surface by thermal or chemical oxidation.The reference symbol 311 designates such an oxide layer 311 that isdeposited or produced by a thermal or chemical oxidation. The secondwafer 200 is subsequently applied to the interlayer 300 by the two oxidelayers 211, 311 being put together and the semiconductor body structurethus obtained being heated, whereby the two oxide layers 211, 311combine with one another. Optionally, one of the oxide layers 211, 311or both of the oxide layers 211, 311 is or are polished before beingjoined together. FIG. 13A illustrates the semiconductor body structureobtained using this method.

Referring to FIG. 13B, the second semiconductor body 200 is subsequentlyremoved as far as the level of the oxide layer 211. This removal of thesecond semiconductor body 200 can be effected using an etching method inwhich the oxide layer 211 serves as an etching stop layer. There is alsothe possibility of grinding back the semiconductor body 200 andsubsequently etching it back as far as the level of the oxide layer 211.The second semiconductor body 200 can also have a porous semiconductorlayer 222 (illustrated in dashed fashion in FIG. 13A) along which partsof the second semiconductor body 200 are separated before a residue ofthe second semiconductor body is etched back as far as the level of theoxide 211.

Referring to FIG. 13C, the two oxide layers 211, 311 are subsequentlyremoved, for example, using an etching method in which the interlayer300 serves as an etching stop layer.

Referring to FIG. 13D, a metallization 62 can subsequently be applied tothe interlayer 300, the metallization forming a drain electrode of thelater component.

FIG. 14 illustrates an excerpt from a semiconductor component inaccordance with FIG. 9 in which the second semiconductor body 200 iscompletely eroded and in which the drain zone is formed by theinterlayer 300 and the optionally present drain zone section 18. Inparticular mono- or polycrystalline or amorphous semiconductor materialssuch as silicon are suitable as material for the interlayer 300 sincethe interlayer is exposed over the entire production process totemperatures of the cell and thus correspondingly high temperatures. Inprinciple, however, correspondingly temperature-resistantmetal-semiconductor compounds such as silicides or else highlytemperature-resistant metals are also suitable.

In the case of a dielectric insulation of the drift control zone 21 fromthe drain zone, which is achieved when an insulation structure inaccordance with FIG. 11 is used, there is the risk of charge carrierswhich cannot flow away accumulating in the drift control zone 21. In thecase of an n-doped drift control zone 21, when the component is turnedoff, electrons and holes can be generated on account of thermal chargecarrier generation within the drift control zone 21, the holes beingconducted away via the first connection zone 22, while the electronsremain in the drift control zone 21 and can negatively charge the driftcontrol zone 21 in the long term. In the case of an insulation structure40 in accordance with FIG. 10, the electrons can flow away via the pnjunction in a direction of the drain zone 14.

In order to prevent such charging of the drift control zone 21 when adielectric layer 43 is provided between the drift control zone 21 andthe drain zone, referring to FIG. 15, the drift control zone 21 can beconnected to the drain zone via a rectifier element 72, such as a diode,for example, in the region of the edge of the semiconductor body at thefront side 102. FIG. 15 illustrates a semiconductor component inaccordance with FIG. 9 for the case where the component has strip-typedrift zones 11 and drift control zones 21, in the edge region of thesemiconductor body in a sectional plane C-C illustrated in FIG. 3B. Inthe case of this component, the drain zone is formed by the interlayer300 and/or the second semiconductor body 200 and is insulated from thedrift control zone 21 by the dielectric layer 43.

In the region of the front side 102, the edge region 104 of thesemiconductor body is at the same electrical potential as the rear side,that is to say the drain potential. This is owing to the fact that thespace charge zone, in the off-state case, is laterally delimited by theedge termination and the edge region 104 is thus free of electric fieldsand thus conductive in accordance with its doping. Moreover, amultiplicity of lattice defects are present along the edge 103, thedefects bringing about a sufficient conductivity of the semiconductorbody along the edge even via possibly existing and severed pn junctions.The lattice defects result from the division, for example, sawing apart,of a wafer into the individual semiconductor bodies. In FIG. 15, thereference symbol 32 designates the dielectric layer that has alreadybeen explained with reference to FIG. 3B and insulates the drift controlzone 21 from the edge region 104 of the semiconductor body. Theconnection zone 22 of the drift control zone 21 ends at a distance fromthe edge region 104 or at a distance from the dielectric layer 32 in alateral direction of the semiconductor body. Referring to theexplanations concerning FIG. 9, when the component is turned off, theconnection zone 22 of the drift control zone 21 is at an electricalpotential that is significantly lower than the drain potential. When thecomponent is turned off, the edge region 104 is thus at drain potential,while the connection zone 22 is at a significantly lower potential. Therectifier element 72 is connected between a connection zone 71 of theedge region 104 and a further connection zone 24 of the drift controlzone 21. In the example illustrated, the further connection zone 24 isdirectly adjacent to the dielectric layer 32, but can also be arrangedat a distance from the dielectric layer 32 (not illustrated). Via therectifier element 72, this second further connection zone 24 isapproximately at drain potential when the component is turned off. Onaccount of the potential difference between the connection zone 22 andthe further connection zone 24 when the component is turned off, a spacecharge zone forms in the drift control zone 21 in a lateral direction,and takes up the voltage difference. In order to influence the electricfield, field plates 81, 82 can be provided, of which one is connected tothe connection zone 22 and one is connected to the further connectionzone 24. As an alternative to the structure illustrated in FIG. 15, thefield plate 82 can also be connected directly to the drain potential.The connection of the field plate 82 to the connection zone 24 is thenseparated and the field plate 82 is e.g., electrically connected to theconnection zone 71.

The rectifier element 72 serves to conduct away accumulated chargecarriers, that is to say electrons in the case of an n-doped driftcontrol zone 21, from the drift control zone 21. For this purpose, it isnecessary for the rectifier element 72 not to be connected with lowimpedance to all regions of the drift control zone 21. Optionally,however, a semiconductor zone 23 doped more highly than the driftcontrol zone 21 is present, which extends in a lateral direction alongthe dielectric layer 43 and which ensures that the drift control zone21, at its drain-side end, that is to say at the end facing the drainzone or the dielectric layer 43, is at an identical electrical potentialat all points. Optionally, there is furthermore the possibility ofconnecting the more highly doped zone 23 to the connection zone 24 usinga further more highly doped zone 25, which extends along the dielectriclayer 32. These two more highly doped zones 23, 25 ensure that thedrain-side end of the drift control zone 21, with the component drivenin the off state, is approximately at drain potential (more precisely:at drain potential minus the forward voltage of the rectifier element72).

It should be pointed out that instead of the edge termination with fieldplates illustrated symbolically in FIGS. 15 and 16, other edgeterminations known in principle are also possible e.g., on the basis offield rings, partially or fully depletable dopings (VLD edges, variationof lateral doping), coverings with insulating, semi-insulating orelectroactive layers such as e.g., DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) also incombination or in combination with field plates.

The rectifier element 72 can be realized as a diode, in particular, andmust not have a particularly high voltage blocking capability in thereverse direction but rather prevent at least the flowing over ofaccumulation charge from the drift control zone 21 in a direction of thedrain. In order, however, to prevent the charge carriers accumulated inthe drift control zone 21, that is to say holes in the case of ann-doped component, from flowing away via the rectifier element 72 withthe component driven in the on state, the connection zone 24 can bedoped very highly.

Optionally, referring to FIG. 16, there is the possibility of providingwithin the drift control zone 21 a dielectric layer 33 reaching from thefront side 102 as far as the more highly doped semiconductor zone 23 atthe drain-side end of the drift control zone 21. The dielectric layer 33prevents the charge carriers that have accumulated when the component isturned on from being able to propagate in a lateral direction as far asthe connection zone of the rectifier element 72. Charge carriersthermally generated in the off-state case can be conducted away from thedrift control zone 21 via the more highly doped semiconductor zone 23. Aspace charge zone also propagates laterally in the off-state case, butthe space charge zone ends at the latest at the connection zone 24. Inthis space charge zone, electron-hole pairs are likewise formed usingthermal generation and separated using the electric field. While onecharge carrier species—the electrons in this example—can flow away viathe connection zone 24 in a direction of the drain, the carriers of theother charge carrier species—the holes in this example—accumulate at thetop at the further dielectric layer 33 and are trapped. Optionally,therefore, a semiconductor zone 26 doped complementarily with respect tothe drift control zone is provided adjacent to the further dielectriclayer 33 at the side remote from the connection zone. The semiconductorzone 26 is electrically connected to the source potential in a mannernot illustrated and likewise serves for conducting away thermallygenerated charge carriers.

Optionally, there is additionally the possibility of providing anadditional dielectric layer 34 perpendicular to the further dielectriclayer 33 along the more highly doped layer 23, the additional dielectriclayer projecting beyond the dielectric layer 33 toward both sides in alateral direction.

It should be pointed out that, in the case of the semiconductorcomponent explained with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16, any desiredrear-side connection zone can be provided which forms the drain zone orat least parts of the drain zone of the semiconductor component. In amanner already explained above, the connection zone can comprise, forexample, only the second semiconductor body, the interlayer 300 and thesecond semiconductor body 200 or only the interlayer 300, if appropriatein each case in conjunction with a metallization 62.

The rectifier element 72 in accordance with FIGS. 15 and 16 and also thecapacitive storage element 51 and the rectifier element 52 in accordancewith FIG. 9 can be realized as external components, but some or all ofthese components can also be integrated in the semiconductor body. FIG.17 illustrates an example for the integration of the capacitive storageelement 51 within the semiconductor body. In the example illustrated,the capacitive storage element 51 is integrated in the region of thedrift control zone 21 and includes a first capacitance electrode 53,which is insulated from the drift control zone 21 and the connectionzone 22 using a capacitance dielectric 54. In this case, the firstcapacitance electrode 53 is connected to the source connection S, forexample. In this case, the connection zone 22 does not have to besituated over the entire length of the drift control zone 21 or does nothave to be situated only in regions in which the storage element 51 issituated. In particular, the connection zone 22 can also be situatedonly in those regions of the drift control zone 21 in which no storageelement 51 is realized. In contrast to FIG. 17, it is also possible fora plurality of storage elements 51 to be realized in a drift controlzone 21.

It should be pointed out that any desired transistor cell geometries canbe provided for the component. The component is therefore not restrictedto the transistor cell geometry explained with reference to FIG. 9.Referring to FIG. 18, there is also the possibility, for example, ofarranging the gate electrode 14 in the region of the drift control zone21. In this case, the dielectric layer 31 has the function of anaccumulation dielectric for the accumulation of charge carriers in thedrift zone 11 under the control of the drift control zone 21 and thefunction of the gate dielectric 15.

It should additionally also be pointed out that the dielectric layer 31can be made thicker in the region of the body zone 12 than in the regionof the drift zone 11 or drift control zone 21. Such a thickening can beachieved e.g., by a procedure in which the dielectric layer 31,proceeding from the surface 102′ of the semiconductor body, is removedright into a depth of the body zone 12 or somewhat deeper using anetching process and afterward, for example, a thermal oxidation iscarried out or a dielectric layer is deposited. As an alternative, afterthe removal of the upper part of the dielectric layer 31, thesemiconductor material can also be etched back and the resulting widertrench can be filled with dielectric again.

The basic structure or semiconductor body that has been obtained by theprocesses explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and that hassemiconductor zones that are separated by dielectric layers is, ofcourse, not restricted to be used as a basis for producing powersemiconductor components that have drift zones and drift control zones.This basic structure may be used in connection with any semiconductorcomponent or semiconductor circuit that requires vertical dielectriclayers.

Referring to FIG. 19 this basic structure may serve as a basis for asemiconductor circuit that has a number of semiconductor devices orsub-circuits 401 that within the semiconductor body are dielectricallyinsulated against each other by the first dielectric layers 31. Thesedevices or sub-circuits 401 are formed in separate semiconductorsections and are interconnected using one or more interconnection layers402 that are disposed above the second side 201. In this connection itshould be noted that in FIGS. 1 to 8 that relate to methods forproducing the basic structure different reference numbers (11′, 21′) forthese semiconductor sections have been chosen in order to easeunderstanding use of this basic structure for the production of a powersemiconductor component as explained with reference to FIG. 9 eventhough these semiconductor sections do not necessarily differ from eachother. In FIGS. 19 and 20 reference number 11-21 in general denotes thesemiconductor sections that are obtained by subdividing the firstsemiconductor body 100 using first dielectric layer(s) 31.

In FIG. 19 the devices or sub-circuits 401 and the interconnection layerare illustrated only schematically. It should be mentioned, that thedevices 401 or sub-circuits may include any kind of semiconductorcomponents and that these devices or sub-circuits 401 may beinterconnected in any way.

In one embodiment the basic structure includes first and secondsemiconductor bodies 100, 200 that directly adjoin each other. In thiscase a basic doping of first semiconductor body 100, in which thedevices or sub-circuits 401 are formed, and a basic doping of secondsemiconductor body 200 are complementary so as to form pn-junctionsbetween the different devices or sub-circuits in a vertical direction.Instead of providing different dopings of first and second semiconductorbody 100, 200 these semiconductor bodies may have a same doping type. Inthis case complementarily doped semiconductor regions (not illustrated)can be produced in the first semiconductor body 100 in the region of itsfirst side prior to applying the second semiconductor body 200.

In one embodiment (illustrated in dashed lines) an electricallyinsulating layer, like an oxide layer, is disposed on the semiconductorsections 11′, 21′ on the first side 101 of the first semiconductor body.In this case, the devices or sub-circuits are completely dielectricallyinsulated against each other in the semiconductor body. This insulatinglayer 221 may be produced by oxidizing first and/or second semiconductorbody 100, 200 prior to bonding the two semiconductor bodies together.

Referring to FIG. 20 first semiconductor layers 31 may form a grid thatseparates a number of semiconductor sections 11′, 21′ in a lateraldirection from each other, with the devices or sub-circuits 401beingformed in these semiconductor sections 1.

Finally, it should be pointed out that features which were explainedabove in connection with only one example can be combined with featuresof other examples even if this was not explicitly mentioned. Thus, inparticular features of the claims specified below can be combined withone another as desired.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the artthat a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may besubstituted for the specific embodiments shown and described withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. This application isintended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specificembodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is intended that thisinvention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

1. A semiconductor component, comprising: a semiconductor body having afirst and a second side, an edge and an edge region adjacent to the edgein a lateral direction; a drift zone and a drift control zonedielectrically insulated from one another by a first dielectric layerextending in a perpendicular direction of the semiconductor body,wherein at least the drift control zone is dielectrically insulated fromthe edge region by a second dielectric layer; a first connection zone inthe region of the second side of the semiconductor body and makingcontact with the drift zone and the edge zone; a third dielectric layerarranged between the drift zone and the connection zone; a rectifierelement, connected between a contact zone of the drift control zone inthe region of the first side and a contact zone of the edge region inthe region of the first side.
 2. The semiconductor component of claim 1,wherein the drift control zone has a first doped section and a seconddoped section, doped more highly than the first doped section andextending along the third dielectric layer.
 3. The semiconductorcomponent of claim 2, wherein the drift control zone has a third dopedsection, arranged between the contact zone and the second doped section.